HIKE FOR FREEDOM

For many years we have thought about how we could make a positive impact in the world, not only with the countless clothing drives here in America but with our partners in Africa. We believed that in order to do this effectively, we needed to be on the ground and document what’s going on so everyone could see it up close and personal.

Prior to the trip, we thought about whether we should do something outrageous and hike Mount Kilimanjaro. The idea of a fundraiser came up, as we thought it could benefit the partners there while helping us with operating expenses here in America.

We knew there would be many who would want to help here in the North America, so we decided to launch the 3.6 Freedom Walk. This event includes a walk, run or bike ride the day we hit mountain in Africa. We will try and live stream the first day to thank the North American partners. This event will be $25.00USD to participate.

If we could get 4,000 people across the US to participate, we’d raise $100,000 for our efforts.

The funds will empower the following partner programs:

Courage Worldwide – Tanzania

In 2007, we learned that we live in a world where children are sold for sex, so we vowed to do something — something that would protect these vulnerable children and propel them into their future. We vowed to give them hope and a home. In 2011, we did just that. We opened two Courage Houses — homes for minor girls rescued from sex trafficking — one in the United States and one in Africa. It is our intent to build a Courage House in every city around the world that needs one so rescued children will have a safe place to heal and call home. We are committed to not only rescuing child victims of sex trafficking, but also to restoring their lives… one individual at a time.

In the last ten years, Courage Worldwide Tanzania has grown so much. Starting with only four girls, we now are caring for forty-five young girls and 14 of their children at our two locations in Moshi, Tanzania: Courage House (minors) and Courage House Too (transition program). Courage House is a safe home, loving family and the fulfillment of all basic needs, trauma-informed counseling and care, specialized education on campus, and continued support through college education until each resident can stand on her own as an independent, young woman.

We have also opened our first Courage Café as a source of funding, space for advocacy and awareness, vocational training center for Courage House graduates and a cozy café for the community. In the upcoming years, we plan to expand our model (Courage House, Courage House Too, and Courage Cafe) and replicate it in Dar es Salaam. The need is great in this quickly growing coastal city that is the former capital of Tanzania. We will also continue in our community education and "Not In My Country" anti-trafficking awareness campaign.

LocalAid – Kenya

 
 

Tribearth started by Sumer Homeh. Tribearth is a social enterprise employing stigmatized women & youth to curate ethical jewelry using local, up-cycled materials and responsible gemstones. The enterprise was born out of a need to create a fundraising arm for LocalAid which is our affiliated NGO, registered in 2009. LocalAid supports the education of former street kids in Kenya. To date, we have rescued, rehabilitated, and educated over 84 kids.

My mission is to empower women & youth through skills training, education & employment. My vision is to see Africa use its own local resources within an ecosystem centred around building livelihoods, creating sustainability and health & wellness.

Our beneficiaries include, women living with HIV/AIDs, stigmatized youth, gemstone miners (mostly women), street children and the environment at large.

Our mission is to employ 100 women & youth within the next 3 years. Tribearth's overall vision is to build a fully sustainable eco-village for the people/community which includes the skills training workshop, organic farm, IT/innovation centre/library and a holistic school in future.

 
 

Budget

  • Machinery: Jewellery making machines to make metal wire & tools ( there are the two remaining machines that are needed to complete the workshop): $5,000

  • IT equipment - computers & printers: $3,500

  • Farm set-up: greenhouse, irritation, well, seeds and a farmer: $1,500

  • Sustainable equipment: Solar panels & lights, rainwater catchment: $5,000

  • Health program - for our women living with HIV/AIDS: $2,000

  • Building materials - to expand our facilities: $10,000

  • Books - $500

 
 

Friends of Orphans – Uganda

Since 1999 Friends of Orphans has worked for war-affected youth in Uganda.

 Friends of Orphans is helping to build lost hope and confidence in children whose early lives were stolen away. They have lost families, homes, lives and a sense of belonging. These children grew up illiterate in violent situations and with ignorance, knowing only how to operate guns. 

Friends of Orphans believes that these children have wounds in their hearts and minds which need to be washed clean and treated through rehabilitation. This approach helps the children to dry their tears and restore meaning in their lives. 

Former child soldiers, orphans, child mothers and abductees do not have to stay victims forever. They can take control of their future and stop the cycle of poverty and hopelessness. We provide these children with access to vocational skill training, primary and secondary education, and promotes their ability to earn an income via innovative, sustainable and non-exploitative means. The program facilitates the long-term social reintegration of these children and enables them to contribute to the development of their communities.

Former child soldiers can work themselves out of poverty with respect and dignity if they are not treated as objects, but rather, as subjects. Therefore, we uses multiple strategies to combat unemployment by addressing the challenges and realities of life faced by former child soldiers, child mothers and orphans since we know that children born in these situations are not of their own making.